crawl meaning and definition

CRAWL noun

Definition of crawl (noun)

1. a very slow movement
   • "the traffic advanced at a crawl"
2. a swimming stroke; arms are moved alternately overhead accompanied by a flutter kick
   • synonyms: Australian crawl, front crawl
3. a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
   • "a crawl was all that the injured man could manage"; "the traffic moved at a creep"
   • synonyms: crawling, creep, creeping

CRAWL verb

Definition of crawl (verb)

1. move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
   • "The crocodile was crawling along the riverbed"
   • synonyms: creep
2. feel as if crawling with insects
   • "My skin crawled--I was terrified"
3. be full of
   • "The old cheese was crawling with maggots"
4. show submission or fear
   • synonyms: cower, creep, cringe, fawn, grovel
5. swim by doing the crawl
   • "European children learn the breast stroke; they often don't know how to crawl"